HBO’s hit late-night boxing franchise presents a rematch that has the boxing world buzzing with anticipation when HBO BOXING AFTER DARK: BRANDON RIOS VS. MIKE ALVARADO II AND TERENCE CRAWFORD VS. BREIDIS PRESCOTT is seen SATURDAY, MARCH 30 at 10:15 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The HBO broadcast team of Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman and Roy Jones Jr. will be ringside for the event, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: March 31 (9:45 a.m.) and April 1 (12:15 a.m.)

HBO2 playdate: April 2 (11:00 p.m.)

Last October, two undefeated junior welterweights produced fireworks for seven heart-pumping rounds that had the boxing community riveted and clamoring for more. Now, Brandon Rios (31-0-1, 23 KOs) of Oxnard, Cal., and Denver’s Mike Alvarado (33-1, 23 KOs) resume their epic rivalry in Act II of this all-action slugfest. Rios, 26, registered a seventh-round TKO win in the first meeting, which made everybody’s list of top fights for 2012. Alvarado, 32, will try to turn the tables on his fast-rising foe in this 12-round contest.

The opening bout is another junior welterweight battle, as Terence Crawford (19-0, 15 KOs) of Omaha, Nebraska, meets Breidis Prescott (26-4, 20 KOs) of Miami, Fla., in a 10-round showdown. Crawford, 25, is an undefeated prospect with knockout power looking to make a statement with an impressive performance against the more experienced Prescott, 29, who’s previously battled Miguel Vazquez, Amir Khan and Mike Alvarado. Terence Crawford replaces Prescott’s originally scheduled opponent Khabib Allakhverdiev, who suffered an injury during training camp.

Immediately following the doubleheader from Las Vegas, HBO will premiere an all new special “Road to Donaire-Rigondeaux” at approximately 12:15 a.m. ET/PT. The 15-minute special previews the upcoming blockbuster super bantamweight title unification bout between Nonito Donaire and Guillermo Rigondeaux set for Saturday, April 13 at New York’s famed Radio City Music Hall. HBO will telecast the fight on its World Championship Boxing series.

COMMENTS

-SouthPaul :

Looking really forward to this rematch. Rios has grown on me. Good sense of humor , appears to genuinely love and enjoy his trade. Not much false bravado. He's legit. Both cats are cool peeps. Am about to rewatch the first fight now before I make any sort of prediction.

-amayseng :

I just yesterday received an email from time Warner
that hbo is free this weekend.
Great news with the rios fight.
Spread the word.
3pm GGG ppv with a solid card.
Sweet sixteen
And hbo boxing at 10pm
Good day.

-SouthPaul :

Good time for a free weekend with a fight that will not miss in the action department. Just saw some pics of the final press conference or recent ... Or whatever .... But Mike looks pudgy in the face. I'm also wondering of those cuts/scratches on his face will be a problem. They were very visible in the build up documentary and still are in that photo. May be nothing but caught my attention again...

-ali :

Usually the rematch is not as good as the first fight but im predicting this one will be.

-SouthPaul :

Just read Rios has been working with Radam's boy Angel ‘Memo’ Heredia. The infamous conditioning coach.

-amayseng :

Rios is on the juice.
Should be fireworks for sure.

-deepwater :

no drama just action. cant wait. grilling a steak and taking the johnie walker platinum out for this one.

-SouthPaul :

Nice. I've got shrimp marinating for the ceviche. Grinding in the gym so skipping liquor and alcohol.

-amayseng :

I'm gonna have to go with steak, red potatoes , salad and a beer for this one.
Don't forget GGG at 3 pm